Gun stabilizer



ay 2, M44. I A. M. DOW 2,348,114

GUN STABILIZER Filed Nov. 24, 1939 Patented May 2, 1944 GUN STABILIZER Alva M. Dow, Braintree, Masa, assignor to Carrie G. Dow, Braintree, Mass.

lpplication November 24, 1939, Serial No. 305,877

14 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in gun stablizing devices and more particularly to devices which utilize the kinetic energy of the gases escaping from the gun, when fired, to oppose the recoil and vertical climb or jump of the gunbarrel.

The gun stabilizing device as herein shown and described is particularly adapted for use with guns of relatively small bore or caliber, such as rifles, shot guns, machine guns and the like, but may also be adapted to mounted guns of larger caliber. Such guns when fired recoil or kick" due to the reaction of the explosive for propelling the projectile and also climb or jump upwardly at the forward end. The climb or jump results from the offset relationship in a vertical plane of the line of force of the recoil and the abutment for opposing the recoil which constitute a couple tending to rotate the gun.

It has heretofore been proposed to provide stabilizing devices for converting the kinetic energy of the gases escaping from the gun-barrel to a force opposing the recoil of the gun. It has also been proposed to provide a stabilizing device for producing a force of reaction to the exhaust of the gases through restricted apertures to oppose the vertical climb or jump of the muzzle-end of the gun. Such prior art stabilizing devices, however, are not satisfactory in operation to produce the desired results.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a device of the type indicated which is extremely eflicient in stabilizing a gun against recoil and climb.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type indicated having a generally converging expansion chamber with exhaust apertures in itsperiphery arranged in predetermined relationship at the top and bottom thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type indicated in which a greater number of exhaust apertures are provided in the upper part of the expansion chamber than in the lower part thereof to provide a resultant force opposing the jump or climb of the gun-barrel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type indicated having a series of lateral shoulders adapted to be impinged upon by the forwardly moving gases to convert the kinetic energy of the gases to a force opposing the recoil of the gun.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type indicated which is light in weight and of simple and compact construction to adapt it for general use and economical manufacture.

Further objects of the invention are set forth in the following specification which describes several forms of construction of the device, by

way of example, as illustrated by the 'acc'ompanying drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 illustrates a stabilizing device incorporating the novel features of the present invention as mounted in operative position on the muzzle-end of a gun-barrel;

Fig. 2 int-a lonigtudinal sectional view of a preferred form of the stabilizing device showing the converging chamber in the interior thereof and the slotted exhaust apertures in its upper and lower walls;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2 showing the series of stepped annular shoulders onthe interior of the chamber;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a gun-stabilizing device of modified construction;

Fig. 5 is atransverse sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4 showing a slightly increased width of the stepped shoulders in the chamber;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a stabilizing device of another modified construction;

Fig. 'l is a transverse sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 6 showing the laterally spaced exhaust apertures at opposite sides of a vertical plane passing through the axis of the device;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 6 showing the split collar for detachably clamping the device to the gun-barrel.

' In Fig. 1 of the drawing a preferred form of gun-stabilizing device 2 incorporating the novel features of the present invention is shown mounted on the muzzle-end of the barrel 3 of a gun 4. As stated above, the gun may be of any type, but is herein illustrated as a rifle of usual construction having a stock 5 projecting downwardly and rearwardly from the axis of the bore in the barrel 3. The preferred embodiment of the stabilizing device, illustrated in detail in Figs. 2 and 3, comprises a conical shell 8 providing a gradually converging chamber 9. The conical shell 8 has an axial tapped bore lll at its apex end and a plurality ofsucce'ssive counterbores of increasing diameter from front to rear forming a series of annular shoulders ll projecting inwardly toward its axis. A plug I2 is seated in the rearmost counterbore I3 in the shell and permanently attached theretoby any suitable means, such as shrinking, welding or the like. The plug l2 has an axially arranged tapped hole It to adapt the device to be screwed onto the threaded end-portion 15 of the gun-barrel 3.

Projecting rearwardly into the chamber 9 from the forward end of the shell 8 is a tube Ill. The tube I8 is arranged in axial alinement with the gun-barrel 3 and has an internal bore IQ of a diameter slightly greater than the bore 20 of the is detachably mounted in the shell 3 and has a conical tip portion 2| at its forward end of the same contour as the forward end of the shell with a shoulder 23 adapted to abut the end of the shell. The tube is has screw threads 22 adjacent the conical tip 2| adapted to cooperate with the tapped bore ill in the shell 6 to mount the tip thereon. The tube It provides an extended passageway for the bullet which will practically close its bore to force the gases to enter the chamher. a surrounding the tube.

In accordance with the present invention a series of exhaust apertures 26 are provided in the upper wall of the shell 8 and a lesser number of exhaust apertures 21 are provided in the bottom wall thereof. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the upper apertures 26 are arranged at regular intervals throughout the length of the shell 3 while the lower apertures 21 are arranged diametrical opposite the apertures 26 at the front and rear of the shell, leaving a closed central portion 26 on the bottom of the shell. Preferably, the apertures 26 and 21 are in the form of rectangular slots which extend equal distances on opposite sides of a vertical plane passing through the axis of the shell. As shown most clearly in Fig. 2 the slotted apertures 26 and 21 are of a width less than the width of the counterbores with their forward sides coincident with the shoulders I]. Thus, the forward sides of the slots 26 and 21 constitute continuations of the annular shoulders ll.

The number of slots 26 in the upper wall of the shell 8 relative to the number of slots 21 in the bottom of the shell may be varied in accordance with the particular gun to which the stabilizing device is applied. The proportioning of the slots 26 and 21 for a particular gun is determined by the angular relationship of the stock 6 to the barrel 3. the force of the recoil of the gun and other factors, such as the length of the barrel, diameter of the bore, velocity of the propelling gases, etc. but in all cases exhaust apertures are provided in both the top and bottom of the shell 8 with a greater number in the top than in the bottom. As an equivalent the relative areas of the apertures 26 and 21 may be varied instead of varying the number of apertures. One embodiment of the invention having now been described in detail the method of operation of the device is as next explained.

With the stabilizing device 2 mounted on the muzzle-end of the gun-barrel 3 in the manner indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 the slotted apertures 26 -and 21 are positioned diametrically opposite each other on the top and bottom of the shell 6 at the forward and rearward ends thereof and may extend substantially equal distances on opposite sides of a central vertical plane. When the gun is fired the exhaust gases escaping from the end of the gun-barrel 3 enter the chamber 9 at a comparatively high velocity, As the gases move forwardly in the converging chamber a they impinge against the annular shoulders Ii and are directed outwardly through the slotted exhaust apertures 26 and 21. Due to the impingement of the gases against the shoulders ii and their deflection through the apertures 26 and 21. part of their kinetic energy is converted into a reactive force tending to move the gun forwardly. This reactive force is opposite in direction and thereby opposes the force causing the recoil of the The exhaust of the gases through the restricted apertures 26 and 21 also produces reactive forces .in a vertical plane at substantially right-angles to the axis of the gun-barrel. These reactive forces of the gases exhausting through the apertures 26 and 21 at the forward and rearward ends of the shell s are equal and opposite and therefore neutralize each other. The force of reaction to the escape of the gases through the apertures 26 opposite the closed central portion 20 at the bottom of the shell 3 opposes the couple which would cause the end of the gun-barrel to jump upwardly or climb. In other words, by providing a greater number of apertures 26' in the top than apertures 21 in the bottom of the shell 6 or a differential in the areas of the apertures 26 and 21 a resultant reactive force is produced which tends to hold the muzzle-end .of the n downward. Due to the fact that theexhaust apertures 26 and 21 extend equal distances on opposite sides of a vertical plane passing through the axis of the gun-barrel 3 the resultant force of reaction to the exhaust of the gases lies in the vertical plane. By properly proportioning the number or area of exhaust apertures 26 with respect to the apertures 21 the force causing the muzzle-end of the gun to jump upwardly or climb can be entirely neutralized. Thus the stabilizing device of the present invention effectively opposes the recoil and substantially reduces the climb of the gun which in efiect further counteracts the recoil,

The stablizing device also acts to conceal the flash of the gun when fired.

In Figs. 4 and 5 a stabilizing device of modified construction is illustrated as having a conical shell 30 with an axial bore 3| at its outer end of a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the bore in the gun-barrel 3 and a plurality of counterbores providing a series of annular shoulders 32. The walls of the conical shell 36, however, converge toward its axis at a greater angle than do the walls of the shell 3, illustrated in Fig. 2, due to the elimination of the tube l6, so that the shoulders 32 may be made wider than the-shoulders II and thereby offer more resistance to the flow of the gases. The exhaust apertures 33 in the top of the shell 36 are the same as the apertures 26, illustrated in Fig. 2, but the apertures 34 in the bottom of the shell are arranged centrally longitudinally thereof and spaced-apart twice the distance between the apertures 33. A plug 36 seated in the rearmost counterbore 36 is provided with an axial bore 31 to fit the end of the gunbarrel 3. The plug 36 is attached to the shell 36 and the shell fastened to the gun-barrel 3 by means of set screws 33 extending radially through the shell and plug with their ends engaging the gun-barrel.

It will be understood that the stabilizing device, illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, operates in substantially the same manner as the device illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The gases impinging against the annular shoulders 32 and being deflected thereby produce a reactive force opposing the recoil and the resultant force to the reaction of the gases exhausting through the apertures 33 and 34 is substantially equal to and opposes the force causin th gun to Jump.

In Figs. 6 to 8 another modified form of construction of the stabilizing device is illustrated as having a conical shell 43 of the same general shape as the shell 33 illustrated in Fig. 4. In this modified construction, however, a series of pairs of exhaust apertures 4| and 42 are provided in the shell 46 adjacent its top. The apertures 4| and 42 of each pair are spaced an equal distance on opposite sides of a vertical plane passing through the'axis of the shell. Exhaust apertures 43 are provided-in the bottom of the shell 40 and are arrangedsimilarly to the apertures 34 illustrated in Fig. 4.

A plug 44 of diilerent construction is also provided for mounting the shell III on the gun-barrel 3. The plug 44 is attached to the shell 40 by means of pins 45 and has a rearwardly extending hub 46 with an axial bore 41 of a diameter to closely fit the end of the gun-barrel. The hub 46 has a series of radial slits l8 and the segments of the hub-between the slits 'are clamped to the gunbarrel 3 by means of a split collar 49. The split collar 49 embraces the hub 46. and is tightened by means of a screw 50 acting between lugs 5| and 52 at the ends thereof. I

The stabilizing device illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8 operatesin substantially the same way as explained with respect to the form of stabilizer illustrated in Figs. 2 to 5. In this construction, however, the forces of reaction to the exhaust of gases through the apertures 4i and 42 are directed to-. ward each other at an acute angle and therefore have slight horizontal components which oppose and neutralize each other and a larger vertical component effective to oppose the forc causing the gun to jump or climb. v

It will be observed from the foregoing description that the present invention provides a stabilizing device for guns and the like which utilizes the velocity of the escaping gases from the end of the gun-barrel to create reactive forces for effectually opposing the climb and thereby the recoil of the gun. It will also be observed that the present invention provides a gun-stabilizer of comparatively simple construction to adapt it for economical manufacture.

Although several modified forms of construction of the invention are herein described and illustrated it will be understood that further modifications may be made in the construction and arrangement of the device without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, the shell may have forms other than that of a cone as herein illustrated, the chamber formed by the shell need not converge, and the rearward walls of the slotted apertures need not aline with the annular shoulders. Therefore, Without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. A gun-stabilizer for mounting at the end of the gun barrel and comprising a shell the peripheral wall of which forms a central coneshaped chamber, said wall on its inner face having integral therewith a series of annular fiatfaced stepped shoulders perpendicular to the axis of said shell and said wall having restricted transverse ports therein adjacent said shoulders for retarding the exhaust of the gases whereby impingement of the gases against the stepped shoulders opposes the recoil of the gun.

2. A gun-stabilizer for mounting at the end of the gun barrel and comprising a shell the peripheral wall of which forms a central cone-shaped chamber, said wall on its inner face having integral therewith a series of annular fiat-faced stepped shoulders perpendicular to the axis of I 3. A gun-stabilizer for mounting at the end of the gun barrel and comprising a conical-shell having a cone-shaped chamber the inner wall of said shell having integral therewith a series of inwardly extending annular stepped shoul-. ders perpendicular to the axis of said shell, the peripheral wall of said shell having transverse slits with their forward walls forming a contin uation of said'shoulders whereby the gases from the gun barrel impinge against the shoulders and exhaust through the slits producing a force opposing the recoil of the gun.

' 4. A gun-stabilizer as set forth in claim 1 including an imperforate tube axially disposed, said tube having a cylindrical bore extending the entire length thereof, one end of said tube being secured to the forward end of said shell and the opposite end being spaced from the end of the gun barrel.

5. A gun-stabilizer formounting at one end of a gun barrel and comprising an annular shell the peripheral wall of which is provided with a plurality of ports extending outwardly therethrough, and an imperforate tube secured to and entirely supported by the forward end of said shell, said tube axially disposed in said shell with its rear end spaced from the gun muzzleand having a central straight line cylindrical bore extending the entire length thereof.

said shell and said wall having restricted transverse ports therein adjacent said shoulders for retarding the exhaust of the gases whereby impingement of the gases against the stepped shoulders opposes the recoil of the gun, the outer end of said shell having a cylindrical bore alined with and slightly larger than the bore of the gun barrel.

6. A gun-stabilizer for mounting at the end of a gun barrel and comprising a shell forming an unobstructed central chamber the rear end of which is adapted to directly communicate with the bore of the gun barrel and the forward end thereof being provided with an elongated imperforate cylindrical passage, the peripheral wall of said shell having formed therein two series of diametrically oppositely disposed restricted ports for interrupting and emitting the exhaust of the gases from the muzzle of the gun barrel, one series having a greater number of ports than the other series and each port having its front wall perpendicular to and extending further towards the axis of said chamber than the walls of the ports in the rear thereof, the excess of ports in theflrst series over the ports in the second series providing a resultant force of reaction to the exhaust of the gases to oppose the force causing the end of the gun barrel to jump or climb when said first series of ports are over the ports in the second series.

7. A gun-stabilizer adapted for attachment to the end of a gun barrel and comprising a shell forming an unobstructed chamber, the rear end of which is adapted to directly communicate with the bore of the gun barrel, the peripheral wall of said shell having therein a top and bottom series of diametrically oppositely'disposed restricted apertures extending -therethrough,'

those of one series being divided equally on opposite sides of a vertical plane passing through an axis corresponding to the axis of the gun barrel, and those in the other series being in a longitudinal row alined with said axis and the 8. A gun-stabilizer adapted for attachment to the end of a gun barrel andcomprising a shell forming a chamber, the rear end of which is adapted to directly communicate with the bore of the gun barrel'and the forward end thereof being provided with an elongated imperforate cylindrical passage, the peripheral wall of said shell having two diametrically oppositely disposed series of transverse slits therein having flat faced shoulders disposed perpendicular to the axis of said shell, the slits in one series being of equal areas on opposite sides of a vertical plane passing through an axis correspondingto the axis of the gun barrel, said slits acting to deflect and emit the exhaust of gases from the gun barrel and the slits of one series having a.-

the end of a gun barrel and comprising a shell forming a conical chamber, the rear end of which is adapted to directly communicate with the bore of the gun barrel and the forward end thereof being provided with an elongated imperforate cylindrical passage, the peripheral wallof saidshell having two series of diametrically oppositely disposed transverse slits therein for interrupting and emitting the exhaust of gases from the gun barrel, said slits forming a series of transverse arcuate fiat-faced shoulders perpen; dicular to the axis of said chamber and adapted to be impinged upon by the gases to oppose the recoil of the gun, and said peripheral wall having a greater number of slits in one series than in the other series and through which slits in the first series when over the slits in the second series the gases exhaust to provide a resultant reactive force substantially equal and opposite to the force causing the gun to jump or climb.

10. A gun-stabilizer adapted for attachment to the end of a gun barrel and comprising a shell forming a chamber, the rear end of which is adapted to directly communicate with the bore ofthe gu barrel and the forward end thereof being provided with an elongated imperforate cylindrical passage, the peripheral wall of said shell having integral therewith a series of stepped arcuate shoulders on the interior thereof the faces of which are perpendicular to the axis of said chamber, said peripheral wall also having two series of diametrically oppositely disposed restricted apertures disposed rearwardly of the arcuate shoulders, said arcuate shoulders being adapted to be impinged upon by the gases from the gun barrel to oppose the recoil of the gun, and said restricted apertures of one series having a greater area than the apertures in the other series through which the gases exhaust to provide a reactive force opposing'the force tending to cause the gun to jump or climb.

11. A gun-stabilizer adapted for attachment to the end of a gun barrel and comprising a shell forming a conical chamber the rear end of which is adapted to directly communicate with the bore of the barrel, said shell having an axial bore and a series of counterbores forming on the interior thereof arcuate fiat-faced stepped shoulders perpendicular to the axis of said chamber, the peripheral wall of said shell having two series of diametrically oppositely disposed transverse slots therein and at the rear of the arcu- -ate shoulders, said arcuate"shoulders being adapted to be impinged upon by the exhaust gases from the gun barrel to oppose the recoil of the gun and said slots acting to interrupt and emit the exhaust of the gases to provide a resultant force of reaction to the exhaust of the gases equal and opposite to the force causing the end of the gun barrel to jump or climb.

12. A gun-stabilizer adapted for attachment to the end of a gun barrel and comprising a conical shell the peripheral wall of which has apertures therein for directing retarding the exhaust of the gases from the gun barrel, and an imperforate tube entirely supported by they forward end of said shell and extending rearwardly from said outer end into the interior of the shell with its inner end open and spaced from the gun barrel, said tube having a cylindrical bore extending the entire length thereof the outer surface of said tube forming with said peripheral wall a gradually converging chamber for receiving the gases from the gun barrel, said converging chamber acting to convert the kinetic energy of the gases into a force opposing the recoil of the gun.

13. A gun-stabilizer adapted for attachment to the end of a gun barrel and comprising a conical shell having an axial bore and a plurality of counterbores of different diameters providing a series of stepped flat-faced shoulders perpendicular to the axis of said shell, said shell having two series of diametrically oppositely disposed transverse slits in the peripheral wall and at the rear of said shoulders, and an imperiorate tube extending rearwardly from the outer end of said shell into the interior thereof with its rear end open and spaced from the gun barrel thereby forming with the wall of said shell a gradually converging chamber with stepped flat-faced shoulders, the'slits in one series having a greater area than the slits in the other series whereby the gases fromthe gun barrel are interrupted and emitted from their normal forward movement and exhaust at a faster rate from one series than from the other series. to provide a force of reaction opposing the climb and recoil of the gun.

14. A gun-stabilizer adapted for attachment to the end of a gun barrel and comprising a conical shell the peripheral wall of which has restricted apertures extending outwardly therethrough for retarding the exhaust of the gases from the gun barrel, an internally threaded bearing portion at the outer end of said shell and an imperforate tube having an enlarged head portion with an adjacent externally threaded portion adapted for engagement with said internally threaded portion and whereby said tube is entirely supported by the forward end of said shell and extending rearwardly therefrom into the interior thereof with its inner end open and spaced from the gun barrel, said tube having a cylindrical bore extending the entire length thereof and the outer surface of said tube forming with said peripheral wall a continuous gradually converging unobstructed chamber for receiving the gases from the gun barrel, said converging chamber actiug to convert the kinetic energy of the gases admitted thereto into a force opposing the recoil of the gun.

ALVA M. DOW. 

